Welcome to Charming, where swirling petticoats, the language of flowers, and old-fashioned duels are only the beginning of what is lying underneath…
After a magical attempt on her life in 1877, Queen Victoria launched a crusade against magic that, while tidied up by the Ministry of Magic, saw the Wizarding community exiled to Hogsmeade, previously little more than a crossroad near the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the years that have passed since, Hogsmeade has suffered plagues, fires, and Victorian hypocrisy but is still standing firm.
Thethe year is now 1894. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
While I have little doubt that you relish having one fewer body in the house, I do quite hope that my particular presence has been missed since my return to Hogwarts. Naturally, I (probably) would not pester you over something as trivial as it having been a week since my return to school, however; indeed, I write with news!
At the urging of Hermia Bonaccord, I have signed myself up for the potion brewing competition being held at the castle at month's end. Of course, I could thought of no one better suited to offer me pointers than my favourite brother, who I admire so deeply and who is so bold and brillaint and—
—you must pardon me; I could not finish that sentence without laughing so hard that I mussed my words.
Regardless, any suggestions would be dearly welcomed; I know a competitive nature is not entirely becoming in a young lady, but as I am still in school, I trust it shall be overlooked.
Obviously I miss having you in the house, and thank you for not trying too hard to compliment me, for then I would not be able to send you the tips because I would fear you were under the influence of the imperio curse.
I think that you'll find the competition suits you. Some tips:
- bezoars for antidotes, always
- try not to rush; if you overheat a potion it is as good as useless
- blinders on: your potion is the only potion that matters to you
- review the basics of some of your N.E.W.T. level material
- I would orient yourself with the ingredients closet before the competition so that you do not get desperate in your searching
I must thank you for taking my request seriously, and for not bemoaning that I do not take you seriously. I hope ardently not to make a dreadful fool of our family on the day in question.
I shall admit that it was not entirely dire; I did finish within the prescribed time (unlike Mr. Leveritt, and he spent the summer under the tutilege of an actual potioneer!) and nothing exploded, which are both marks in my favour. My potion, though, was just so lacklustre in comparison to the efforts of my peers. While I had not been overjoyed at the prospect of competing, I am too competitive not to have wished to do better!
Well, it sounds as if we shall simply have to practice more this summer.
I jest (unless you are interested in such a thing); but it does sound as if things could have gone worse. Perhaps next time you shall be more successful. In the meantime, I'm glad you did not cause an explosion in Hogwarts, or something similarly dire.
